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[OMEGA VXR]

Hi

About a firtnight ago i had trouble with all my lights flashing,& most of you guys told me it was likely to be the regulator in the alternator so last night I fitted a new set of bushes/regulator (from a.b butts)and this morning it was flashing! (does it on first start up lasts 20 secs,stops when driving off!!!!!!)

What could it be now??? Ive had a new aux belt (VX) This isnt going to make much difference I know, I need some advice on this cos its now doing my head in!!!!!!!!

Im starting to look at possibly the battery (4 yrs old) or the alternator itself (original to car)other than that im puzzled

Please help

Thanks Lee

[Abiton]

Have you cleaned up all the connections to the alternator? And the battery posts/connectors? Those are favourite spots for a bit of voltage drop which may give spurious dash-light action, I think.

[Kevin Wood]

Loose connection is all I can think of too, unless there's an intermittent short in the windings on the alternator. Check the alternator mountings are clean as this forms the negative connection.

The positive wire from alternator / starter over to the battery has caused problems before where it is crimped into the battery terminal. Check this is tight and that none of the connections get hot.

Negative connections between battery and body, and battery and engine block are the other ones to check.

Kevin

[iggy21uk]

Alternator help guide by Mark

This could help

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1153772945

[OMEGA VXR]

Ive checked all necassary earth wires battery conections and cleaned them up using potrolium jelly there is no corrosion anywhere.

Went to start it this morning and youve guessed it the flashing is still there, I got the digital multi metre on the battery while it was flashing and it pulsates- it goes from 14.25v to 13.33 on tick over but fluctuates through those figures so 14.25v flash on, then 13.33v flash off. If this helps the engine dips a little when it flashes.

Does the alternator fail in other areas? cos ive changed the regulator/bushes and it hasnt made any difference.

Please help me!

Lee

[Abiton]

I'd be inclined to borrow a known good/young battery from a pal and try that. Four years isn't that old, but it depends how the car's used as to how long a battery will last.

I heard somewhere that one failure mode (arguably designed in) of car batts is that bits of lead fall off the electrodes and collect at the bottom of the housing, eventually shorting out plates.  If this was just starting to happen in yours, it could explain what you're seeing, I think  :-/.  Once you drive off, maybe it shakes the loose stuff around a bit and breaks the short? Can't really see why it would pulsate like you're seeing TBH though.

Or maybe I can? If the voltage regulator is seeing a voltage that sometimes suggests charging is required and sometimes not, maybe it can get into some sort of cycle with hysteresis where it's switching the brush current on and off intermittently?

Excuse my vague, meandering thoughts please!

[OMEGA VXR]

Thanks Abiton I'll try that tonight if it stops raining!

Has anybody else got any other ideas?.........................Have you

MarksDTM or TheBoy got any suggestions??

[RobG]

  Had this problem on my `98 2.0 CDX. All lights and instrument and MID lights were flashing on initial start up. Pulled the fuse under the bonnet for the secondary air pump, no more flashing.

[TheBoy]

Thanks Abiton I'll try that tonight if it stops raining!

Has anybody else got any other ideas?.........................Have you

MarksDTM or TheBoy got any suggestions??

Is voltage across battery more steady at 2.5k rpm?

[OMEGA VXR]

Hi The voltage across the battery is more steady at 2500 rpm its at 14.17v but in the haines manual it says it shouldnt be over 14v in any situation.

I did a very stupid thing wednesday! I forgot to  tighten the bottom bolt up on the alternator support bracket, I then tightened it yesterday thinking that was the cause of the flashing, but it wasnt!

What do you think to Robg's suggestion? if i was to do that where is the fuse located? ive had a look in the fusible housing and i have 2 fuses a 40amp & a 60amp. wheres the secondary air pump? why would that stop the flashing?

Cheers

Lee

[Kevin Wood]

That voltage sounds fine. Up to 14.4 when running will cause no problems. I don't know where Haynes got a figure of 14 v from.

Kevin

[OMEGA VXR]

Thats good to know then i wont take the haines manual as gospel then!! wonder where  they get their info from?

So my cars voltage is ok then? would that suggest that my alternator is working fine? Ive had many people say its a bad earth but i just cant find any problems in those areas! Then again has omegas got an earth strap on the gearbox housing?

Id still like to know more on what RobG said earlier in his thread.

Cheers

Lee

[TheBoy]

Hi The voltage across the battery is more steady at 2500 rpm its at 14.17v but in the haines manual it says it shouldnt be over 14v in any situation.

I did a very stupid thing wednesday! I forgot to  tighten the bottom bolt up on the alternator support bracket, I then tightened it yesterday thinking that was the cause of the flashing, but it wasnt!

What do you think to Robg's suggestion? if i was to do that where is the fuse located? ive had a look in the fusible housing and i have 2 fuses a 40amp & a 60amp. wheres the secondary air pump? why would that stop the flashing?

Cheers

Lee

OK, so something is causing the voltage to fluctuate at low revs.  I can only think alternator....

[OMEGA VXR]

Hi all

Just to let you know that i think ive sussed the problem,its something that RobG said in his thread to do with the secondary air injection pump mines faked!got it off fiddled with it on Friday, put it back,it did work for a time (thats when i knew the flashing had stopped!) hasnt worked since.
I never noticed usually when i start it for work in the morning it makes a high pitched noise something to do with getting the cat up to temp. mine hasnt been doing it lately probably some weeks now, thats why im getting the flashing for only 20 seconds or so (has anybody else had one fail? do they wear? I must say thanks for all your help,this is a fantastic site,im glad im part of it.

Im going to ring a few scrap yards today for some prices,but if anyone has got one please let me know its a 2.0 16v 1994

Thanks

Lee

[Kevin Wood]

Interesting. Maybe the SAI pump is drawing a lot of current. I would have thought it would have blown its' fuse in that case but perhaps not. I would just disconnect the pump. It serves little useful purpose and won't affect MOT emissions. I'd say it's not worth looking for a replacement.

Kevin